Hot Topics:

Aubrey Plaza looks fear in the face in new comedy

By NICOLE EVATT Associated Press

Updated:
07/25/2013 03:19:51 PM EDT

Click photo to enlarge

This Sunday, July 14, 2013 photo shows Aubrey Plaza from the cast of "The To Do List" at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. The comedy revolves around a Boise teenager named Brandy Klark, played by Plaza, a valedictorian of the Class of 1993, who creates a "to do" list of the things she missed out on in high school. The film releases Friday, July 26, 2013. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—Aubrey Plaza had to overcome a few fears in the R-rated comedy "The To Do List"—including doing a number of hilariously awkward sex scenes. But the 29-year-old actress says she's anything but brave.

"I'm fearful every day of my life. Every moment of life is full of fear," the "Parks and Recreation" star said in her usual deadpan manner. "But you know when I was shooting this movie I had a lot of support and the cast was so funny ... so I just kind of looked fear in the face."

Plaza plays Brandy Klark, an overachieving high school graduate, in the coming-of-age comedy set in 1990s Boise, Idaho, who tries to complete a sexual to-do list before heading off to college.

This film publicity image released by CBS Films shows Aubrey Plaza portraying Brandy Klark in a scene from "The To Do List." The film releases Friday, July 26, 2013. ((AP Photo/CBS Films, Bonnie Osborne))

"Looking back on it, I feel like the masturbating scene was a little bit the most nerve-racking. Just because in my head I thought, 'Oh, we'll probably shoot this in a way where I don't really have to really do it.' But then when we did it and I was like, 'Oh no, we're going to shoot it where I do it,'" Plaza said in a recent interview. "Also, when my top fell off and I was running around with all those kids. You know I'm a method actor, so I really was topless, and I think I scarred some of those kids for life. So that was more nerve-racking for them, but they deserved it."

The film, which opens Friday, was written and directed by Maggie Carey, wife of actor Bill Hader ("Saturday Night Live").

Advertisement

They met in improv class at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and first worked together on Carey's Web series, "The Jeannie Tate Show."

"I remember Maggie saying, 'This girl named Aubrey is really, really funny and she's at U.C.B. in New York and I've watched her perform and she's hilarious,'" Hader said about first meeting Plaza while filming the Web series. "So it's been really cool thinking back on that, of us driving out to New Jersey together and being like, 'So you're from Delaware? Oh, cool.' And now she's this big cover story on The New York Times. I'm really excited for her."

Plaza made headlines when she crashed the stage during Will Ferrell's acceptance speech at the MTV Movie Awards in April. Although she had "(hash)The To Do List" written on her chest, it's unclear whether the stunt was planned.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I have no memory of yesterday," Plaza said at the film's premiere Tuesday. "I'm just in the moment at all times."

Co-stars Clark Gregg and Connie Britton, who play Brandy's parents in the film, say Plaza inspired everyone to rise to the—often mortifying—occasion.

"I feel like she came into this so enthusiastically and willing to take risks and she set the bar really high," Britton said.

"She's fearless," added Gregg. "She does it in a way that's so humiliating and so embarrassing and so completely brave that you can't help but love her. And as someone acting with her, can't help but go there with her."

ODESSA, Texas (AP) — A West Texas man has been charged with impersonating an officer by using sirens and flashing lights to skip to the head of the drive-thru line at a fast-food restaurant. Full Story

Sufjan Stevens, "Carrie & Lowell" (Asthmatic Kitty) Plucked strings and pulsing keyboards dominate the distinctive arrangements on Sufjan Stevens' latest album, and in the absence of a rhythm section, they serve to keep time. Full Story